CORNERFLICK
Croatia beat Panama 1-0 in their second Group L match at BMO Field in Toronto, with Ante Budimir settling a tight game after half-time.
The first 45 minutes produced little of note. Both sides struggled to create chances and neither team managed a shot on target before the interval.
Zlatko Dalić changed two players at the break, and Croatia were rewarded in the 55th minute. Josip Stanišić and Mario Pašalić combined on the right, Stanišić delivered a low cross, and Budimir finished into an empty net just 10 minutes after coming on.
Croatia nearly added a second three minutes later when Luka Modrić picked out Pašalić with a fine pass, but the midfielder could not beat the Panama goalkeeper with a chip. His follow-up also cleared the bar.
Panama pushed for an equaliser but never found a way through. Referee Pierre Achou of Gabon booked Joel Bárcenas for Panama and Petar Sučić for Croatia.
After two rounds, England and Ghana lead Group L on four points, Croatia sit third on three, and Panama are bottom without a point.